jg623,
here is a few tips you might use........................
1: Avoid placing access points near structural metalWhen setting up a new wireless access point, you should install it in a location that will be unlikely to cause radio interference. I once had someone contact me because their wireless network was not working correctly. When I asked them to show me the access point, they led me into the warehouse where the access point sat on top of a steel beam just beneath a metal roof. The surrounding metal was interfering with the signal. Moving the access point took care of the problem. Since that time, I have always advised clients not to place access points in close proximity to structural metal.
2: Use Power over Ethernet when necessaryPeople like to place wireless access points on or near the ceiling in an effort to help wireless achieve the best possible range. But it can be difficult to get power to the access point. Rather than rely on extension cords (as I have occasionally seen done), consider using Power over Ethernet (PoE). PoE provides the access point with power over unused wires within an Ethernet cable. Special PoE modules at each end of the cable ensure that networking hardware is not exposed to the electricity the cable is carrying.
3: Reset the access point password immediatelyThe first thing you should do when setting up any new wireless access point is reset the access point’s internal password. Otherwise, the access point’s configuration interface will be accessible to anyone who knows how to look up the default password on the Internet.
4: Take advantage of built-in security featuresEven the cheapest wireless access points come loaded with numerous security features. For example, most access points will allow you to restrict network access by MAC address. Some wireless access points also contain alerting mechanisms that can fire off an email message if someone repeatedly attempts to connect to your network using an incorrect pass phrase. Be sure you check out the security features your wireless access point offers and enable the ones that seem beneficial.
5: Restrict the number of concurrent connectionsA suggestion I like to add to the security of the access point is restrict the number of concurant connections. You will have an idea just how many devices will be accessing it at any one time.. restricting the connections can help stop or at least alert you to some unauthorized access. In a home enviroment that can keep your neighbors off your wireless even if they did manage to learn your access code.
Hope some of those suggestions help you out and other members take care
tmy
Thanks for the tips.
I have a few more questions regarding the initial set up.
Ive managed to set up 3 wireless routers, but they are all on different networks as ive found dchp quite tricky.
router #1 is the adsl router (192.168.1.254)
router #2 is connected to router #1 via a 30 metre cat5e connection (192.168.0.1)
router #3 is connected to router #2 via a 20 metre cat5e connection (10.10.10.1)
all of these work fine as i had trouble configuring dhcp...
are these the steps below in order to get it to run on one network instead of 3?
Give router #2 a static ip via the LAN setup in the configuration lets say 192.168.1.253 (one less than the adsl) and turn DHCP off and change the SSID to the same as #1
then the same with #2 happens with #3, giving the static ip of 192.168.1.252
or should the other access points/routers be configured via the dhcp address .. 192.168.1.101 (#1), - .102(#2), - .103 (#3)
I'm just slightly confused.
Thanks for all your help.
Kind Regards,
jg623
